I hope your year is off to a great start! Today is the first day my kids are all back in school (almost half way through the month), hooray! While it was a wonderful holiday break with my kiddos, I'm ready to get back into a routine and start working on my plans for this year. I used my "kid-free" time today to sit down and complete the mini session calendar for 2022. While some of these are returning from last year, a few are brand new! If you're like me and love to plan ahead, you're welcome. :-) I hope this gives you an idea of what to expect and helps you decide what sessions you're interested in. Release dates and information will always be shared on my newsletter first so make sure you subscribe here!

Announcing the 2022 Mini Sessions:

• Glitter Minis in the studio - Saturday February 5th, releasing on Monday 1/17! (more details are below)

• Motherhood Minis in the studio - Saturday April 2nd

• Beach Family Minis - Saturday May 14th

• Summertime Minis, TBD but considering baseball themed for boys floral swing for girls in June or July

• Pumpkin Patch on Ruby the Vintage Red Truck - Sunday September 25th

• Outdoor Fall Family Minis - TBD, but hoping to book Out Under the Trees in Angleton on either 10/22 or 10/29

• Red Truck Holiday Minis - Saturday November 5th

• Formal Studio Christmas Minis - Sunday November 13th

• Christmas Themed Children Minis in the studio, theme TBD (possibly Baking or Winter Wonderland), Sunday November 27th

*Glitter Mini Sessions* are baaaaaccck for 2022!

Saturday, February 5th

I'm still cleaning up the glitter from last year's event, so I say let's just do it again! These were such a hit with the kiddos last year! But *NEW for this year* I'm inviting moms to join in on the glitter fun! This is totally optional but the feedback last year was that mom clients want to play in the glitter too..! And it makes for a perfect opportunity to capture some precious playful moments with your kids!

The date is set for the afternoon of Saturday, February 5th in my Pearland studio. Sessions will release on my website next Monday January 17th at 8pm.

The total cost is $300 plus tax and includes a 15 minute session and 10 digital images. A deposit of $100 plus tax is due to hold your spot and the remaining balance of $200 plus tax is due the day of your session. These sessions can accommodate up to 4 siblings, and of course boys are welcome too!

Galleries will be delivered before Valentine's Day and wardrobe options are available for both girls and moms.

Launching Your Business While Preparing for a Baby? Discover These 5 Must-Know Tips…

Separately, starting a business and having a baby are massive life events. Combined, these undertakings are a massive achievement that few can handle at the same time. If you are one of the rare individuals who will be welcoming your new addition shortly after starting a business, planning and preparation are an absolute must. Having a plan for everything from childcare, to your baby’s sleep schedule, to your postpartum work hours is crucial for success.   

Taryn Melgoza shares five valuable tips for any soon-to-be parent who is about to launch their new small business.

Handle all important business tasks prior to baby’s arrival

As you prepare for baby with a maternity photo session, baby shower, and nursery decor, you should also start focusing on critical tasks that need to be completed before opening your company. It will be far more challenging to do things such as file for a business license, obtain your sales tax permit, set up a website, and create your product/service menu once your newborn arrives.

Among these core business tasks is applying for an EIN (Employer Identification Number). An EIN is also known as a Tax ID Number. If you’re wondering “what is an EIN number?”, you are not alone. Many new business owners are unaware that — even if they do not employ anyone yet — having an Employer Identification Number is important. The primary reason for obtaining an EIN is to more easily identify your business in various situations. This number also makes it easier to file state and federal taxes. 

Establish dates for maternity leave and for your return

Business owners have the benefit of making their own schedules. Although this is a perk most of the time, it can prove to be difficult when going on maternity leave. Since all time off is unpaid, deciding how much time to allot for maternity leave is not as easy as when you are employed by a company. Complicating this even further is the fact that your business is brand new. 

 Right now, establish dates for your maternity leave, and a set schedule for when you return. What works best for you will depend largely on your individual circumstances. Factor in everything from your budget to your physical needs (and the needs of your baby). There is no right or wrong answer when setting a timeline and schedule that works for you.

 Decide childcare arrangements in advance

Childcare is another area that will look different for every business owner. Depending on what type of business you run, you may be able to care for your baby while running your company from home. Alternatively, you might need to find daycare services (either outside of the home or with a friend//family member) so that you can show up in person.

After setting your maternity leave schedule and your plan to return to work, research childcare options that suit your needs.

Consider outsourcing tasks while away from your business

Don’t want your business to come to a halt for the duration of your maternity leave? Outsource daily duties to a variety of professionals. Find freelancers to take care of customer service, order fulfillment, IT support, and every other need you have. You can also ask friends or family members to step in and run the organization while you are on leave. Keeping the momentum going for a new business is crucial, so outsourcing is vital.

Be kind and gentle with yourself

Remember how few individuals are brave enough to take on parenting a newborn and starting a business at the same time? That’s because juggling both duties is tough. There will be periods that are more challenging than others, and that is ok. At all stages, be kind and gentle with yourself. Praise your efforts and acknowledge how much work you’ve put into being an amazing entrepreneur and parent.

On top of these suggestions, allow time for self-care. Taking care of yourself helps you be the best business owner and parent that you can be.

Taryn Melgoza captures stunning images of pregnancy, newborns, children, and families in the Houston area. Preserve memories that will last a lifetime by scheduling your photo session today.

First birthdays are such a huge milestone in your baby and family’s lives! It’s still unbelievable to me how much babies grow and change during the first year of life. They’ve learned so much, developed into little people with personalities and opinions, and have started to explore the world around them. It’s all so exciting and beautiful to watch! And as parents, you’ve survived birth, the sleepless nights, the mood swings, the growth spurts, all the first moments and milestones of wonder and joy…you deserve an award!

This first birthday milestone deserves to be documented as a big moment in your baby’s life! To help you preserve these memories, we are excited to be offering a new session type in the studio. These sessions will be photographed by my amazing associate photographer, Katie!

A Petite Cake Smash session will take place in our Pearland studio and will generally last 30 minutes. Since this is a shorter session, the focus will be on baby only and will include one set up with an optional cake smash at the end of the session. This Petite session option is $399 and is all-inclusive of the session time and 15 fully edited digital images.

Petite Birthday sessions include our amazing personalized care; access to our carefully curated client wardrobe and accessories; a skilled, trained photographer with over 10 years of experience; use of our adorable studio and props; and heart warming photographs that you will cherish forever.

If you’d like more information or to discuss date options, please contact us today to start the conversations!

We can’t wait to see your sweet babies in the studio soon!

Can we all agree, babies that look like this demand to be snuggled and kissed multiple times a day?! Don’t worry, I didn’t personally kiss him (although sometimes it feels like a natural reaction when I’m holding a newborn and I have to tell myself - THIS IS NOT YOUR BABY, lol)…I know his mommy gives him plenty of love and snuggles because she is head over heels for him! This family was a new Baby Planner client in 2020 (meaning they will be coming back for their baby’s milestone sessions every few months) and I’m so glad I’ve gotten to know them and become friends with them this year! We connected on all sorts of things, like home-building, raising kids, shopping, hair stuff (blonde highlight issues), etc. It’s awesome when you get to call your clients FRIENDS. Just another reason I love my job! I hope you enjoy this peek in little man Decker’s newborn session.

I’ve been trying to catchup on blog posts from 2020, but let’s be honest, it’s going to take me a while with as busy and crazy as this year has been! This sweet girl will be visiting me in the studio soon for her sitting milestone baby portraits, so I thought it was finally time to blog her beautiful newborn session from earlier this year. This family is so special to me as I also photographed big sisters’ first year baby photos. This essentially means I watched her grow up in front of my camera, and now I will get to watch as baby sister grows over her first year! One of my favorite memories from this session was how excited big sister was about her new baby sister. She was so sweet and gentle with her…I know they will have an unbreakable sibling bond as they grow up! Welcome to the world baby Carolina!

Look at this cutie pie birthday boy! I have been photographing his family since he was was just a tiny little peanut in his mommy’s belly. His mommy booked me for the very popular Milestone Baby Collection that includes 4 sessions throughout baby’s first year, so I feel like I’ve watched this sweet little guy grow up in front of my camera! We did his birthday session at one of my favorite park locations in Houston…many people refer to this park as the one with the cute door. This park has so much character and makes the perfect setting to photograph a family and birthday boy. And of course, we ended the session with a delicious and messy cake smash. Happy 1st birthday Wyatt!!

One of my best friends in the world had her first baby last year! I was lucky to get to photograph that precious little guy and his parents in their gorgeous Houston home just a few weeks after his birth. I’ve known Sarah since our high school cheerleading days and then we went on to be college roommates at A&M and lifelong friends (and funny story - I’ve known Jarrett for years from our triathlon days but before they ever started dating!). Sarah and I have so many fun memories together, but nothing is more special or memorable than getting to see her become a mommy! As you can see, she has impeccable taste in home decor and her little family happens to be beautiful and super photogenic, which easily makes this one of my favorite lifestyle newborn sessions EVER. They made my job so easy. Brady the Golden Retriever needs his own shout out because look at him! Such a handsome pup and best big brother! J&S I am so happy for your growing family and was grateful to have the opportunity to document this wonderful and new time in your lives! Welcome to the world baby Reid!

I’ve known this family for many years. I photographed their maternity photos before they had their daughter and was honored to photograph them again for baby #2….a BOY! I’m also lucky enough to call them friends! We photographed this session on their family ranch in Angleton. It was so dreamy with a pond on site, gorgeous trees, and lots of livestock to keep us company. I always love the way Margie styles her sessions from their gorgeous dresses to her boho inspired hair style. The session was just perfection!

I love photographing families and always aim to make them look fun and natural! My goal is to capture both posed (everyone looking at smiling at the camera) and natural+connected, candid+playful images of your family. The natural images are the ones I always seem to choose to hang on my own walls at home..just us being ourselves and loving on each other (but with prettier clothing and nice hair and make-up!). The key to taking genuine and authentic family photos is knowing how to pose clients in a way that makes them look their best while having fun. Part of my job as your photographer is to coach your family into poses that both look beautiful and feel natural.

If you’ve never taken professional family photos before or if you simply want to improve on your last session, here are my my favorite suggestions on how to pose that will leave you with beautiful family portraits.

Get Close

The last thing you want is a family portrait that looks stiff and awkward. The secret to creating a beautiful, intimate family photo is to get close. Snuggle up with the people you love if you want the best photos. If there are people of varying heights in the photo, take a few photos on the same level so that you can get your heads close together too.

Have Fun

Your photos always look more authentic when your family is genuinely having fun and laughing. Spend time talking about your favorite vacation or a memory that makes you all laugh out loud. These candid moments always make for the best photos.

Keep it Natural

When you overthink posing, it takes away from the genuineness of your photos, which is why it helps to shoot your family photos in a setting where you’re all comfortable and where you can go about your lives as naturally as possible. For example, if you’re in an outdoor setting, take your little one for a walk. If you’re shooting at home, bake something together or snuggle up for a story. 

Use Your Surroundings

Very often, standing upright in the middle of a room or garden will make your photos look and feel stiff. Use your surroundings to make yourselves more comfortable. For example, if there’s a wall in the vicinity, lean up against it. If there’s a couch available, pose on that for a few shots.

Make Use of Props

If you would like to change things up a bit or give a younger child something to do, you can also always incorporate a few basic props into your photos to get a few non-standard shots. 

If you still have questions about your upcoming photo shoot with us and how to make the most of it, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you with additional tips. 

Y’all, this family has been with me for years…they were one of my very first clients when I first started my business when their oldest daughter was just 6 months old. I adore them more than words can express. They are always styled so well, EASY, happy, and just a dream to photograph. I look forward to their sessions every year because their sweet girls are so much fun and photogenic. I can’t say enough good things about them, I just love them!

We did their family portrait session at my favorite beach location south of Houston and the evening light was incredible. The sunset creates the most beautiful purple and pink backdrop over the water, which blended perfectly with their outfits. The beach also happened to be mostly empty this evening, so that meant I didn’t have to edit out anyone in the background….a big win for me! I can’t wait to see their family again later this ear!

Meet baby Ari! What a cutie pie he was! We photographed his newborn session around 10 days of age in our new Pearland studio. He was one of the first newborn sessions we photographed in the new studio space and it felt like a dream to be able to use both natural light and studio light for this session. Baby Ari was not only adorable, but also a happy little guy and gave us several little smiles! He happened to wake up mid-session so this gave us the chance to capture some amazing awake photos…while we love a sleeping baby for most of the session, we also adore those open eye photos of our littlest clients. Enjoy a sneak peek of this handsome guy’s perfect newborn session!

If you’ve recently booked a family portrait session with us, we are so excited to meet you soon! But, you may be feeling a bit apprehensive wondering how your children will behave during the session. I also know first hand how stressful it is getting everyone ready and out the door on time! This is why the below tips will definitely come in handy before your upcoming photo session. 

1. Don't make a huge deal out of it. If you're stressed out and cranky, your kids will usually pick up on it and act accordingly. Their behavior will usually be better if you are relaxed and having fun. You may have to make some compromises to keep the peace such as letting your energetic daughter's hair stay straight instead of curling it into because she won't sit still. Focus on the big picture and don't sweat the small stuff. 

2. Make it fun. Let the kids have a couple “fun pictures” where they get to pick their own pose or props. You get to keep the more serious photos while they get to keep their silly photos. This way everyone wins.  If you are struggling to get your kids to sit still, turn the photo session into a game. Simon Says usually works like a charm. 

3. Be prepared.  If you're going to be out for several hours, ensure that your children are well rested and have had their nap. Bringing some snacks and activities along is also a great idea. If you are having your own photos taken too then you might want to bring a babysitter or family member along to watch the kids. If you happen to be shooting in a remote location, you never know when you might need something like bug spray, tissues or a first aid kit so bring that along too.

4. Be patient. Save your sanity by trying not to control the photo session too much. Sometimes the best photos come from kids just doing their own thing. Work with your photographer and your photos will look fantastic. 

5.  Have a chat. Get your children talking to both you and the photographer about topics such as school or their favorite songs. This allows them to feel more comfortable around your photographer and will also give your photographer a chance to capture a few candid and cute expressions.

Photographing newborns is truly a joy for me! I love the creativity of setting up each session with various colors, textures, props…the possibilities are endless, especially with the large prop collection that I have acquired over my years of business. This sweet girl came to visit me in my new studio location in Pearland and gave me a chance to really utilize my new space. I am now able to pose my parents and families on a bed prop, the new shiplap wall, or with studio light.

This family is equally as gorgeous as they are precious. I had the honor of photographing their family with their first baby girl a few years ago (the sweet toddler you see in these photos) and was so thrilled when they asked me to photograph baby girl #2 and her first year of life. There is no greater honor than when clients come back to me year after year for their portraits. We chose my favorite beach locations in Seabrook, TX and the weather was absolutely perfect. This particular location produces the most dreamy sunsets with a watercolor purple and pink sky. Hair and make-up was done by the amazing Sunkissed and Made-up, and they always amaze me with their talents!

We’ve been living in quarantine for what feels like a year, even though it’s only been a little over 5 weeks now. And, while most of the time, we are enjoying the slower days and home school life, we sure do miss seeing our friends, sports, and our daily routines. Since we’ve been spending so much time at home lately, and my last baby (Ledger, 2.5 years) no longer lets me snuggle with him, I started to get the crazy idea to get a new puppy. And believe it or not, my husband was actually on board with the idea! So now we are crazy dog people who have 3 dogs. Let’s do some simple math…. 3 children + 3 dogs, + 1 turtle = a little crazy but lots of FUN around here! We decided on a blue heeler puppy because our first fur-baby is also a heeler and she has been the absolute best dog EVER! She is now 16.5 years old and still trucking along, even if she’s deaf, very arthritic, and losing her sight. We also have a sweet lab mix named Greta who is 7 years old. The big kids and I drove 3 hours one way about two weeks ago to pick up Luna in Dawson, TX, and it was such a fun experience for them! It also got us out of the house for a while, which was nice. She’s super cute (some may think she looks like a raccoon or opossum, but we think she’s precious) and has a FUN personality to go along with her cute face…we just love her so much! She also has her wild puppy moments where she nips at our ankles and talks back when I tell her to stop. Oh, the joys of puppy-life! I took her to the studio 2 days after we brought her home to take her “newborn” photos when she was almost 11 weeks old. I was sweating bullets by the time we finished because she made me WORK. I am so happy with the way they turned out and grateful that she finally went to sleep to allow me to capture some sweet sleeping puppy photos too.

Valentine’s Mini Sessions are coming to the studio!  They will be held Saturday February 1st starting at 10am in my new Pearland studio location. Photos will be edited and delivered within 48 hours.
–$200 plus tax  ($50 is due to book your session, the remaining balance is due the day of your session)
–10 minute sessions
–Includes a minimum of 4 digital images by digital download AND wardrobe for girls.
–Sign ups will open on Monday January 20th at 7pm and the link will be sent out through my newsletter.
–Space is limited!
–These sessions are for children only and I can accommodate up to 3 siblings together in a session. Babies must be sitting independently or able to sit in a prop.

We can’t wait to see your little lovies for this fun mini session event!

We invite you to celebrate the NEW studio grand opening on Saturday January 25th from 10am-12pm! We are now located at 3532 East Broadway, across the street from Killen’s BBQ. We hope you will make plans to stop by and say hello, explore the new studio, meet me and Jenna, and enjoy some mimosas and light snacks. We will be giving away TWO Valentine’s mini session spots to those who attend (Valentine’s minis will be held on Saturday February 1st, more details to follow). We look forward to seeing you!

Kollins Six Month & Family Session

Oh, my goodness, y’all – cuteness overload! I love this family so much, and I’m enjoying watching their two sweet kiddos grow. Baby Kollins came back to see me for her six-month milestone session, and Mom decided she wanted a family session outdoors this time. Kollins’ six-month birthday happened to land right around fall time in Texas, so we had some lovely cool weather with a gorgeous fall sunset the night of their session.

Although it comes in a very small window, fall is always one of my favorite times to do outdoor portraits in Texas! You can definitely see how much personality baby Kollins has in these images. She loves the outdoors, and she was full of smiles, which made it such a fun session! (I think it might have had something to do with her playful brother being by her side.)

She borrowed a few wardrobe options from my studio collection as well as the adorable floral crown. Baby girls and flowers are always a perfect combination in my opinion! She has the most gorgeous blue eyes I’ve ever seen, so the light blue, coral, green, and pink colors really made them stand out even more. What a beauty!

We made sure to capture both family images as well as several individual photos of Kollins during this session. I always encourage families to participate in their baby's milestone sessions as it helps baby adjust to the situation AND creates gorgeous family memories for them to cherish and look back upon. These sibling portraits are priceless! I know their parents adore them, but I guarantee they’ll be equally treasured by Kollins and her brother when they grow up. Their bond is something special, and what an honor it was to capture these moments for them.

Happy half birthday, baby Kollins! I can’t wait to see this crew back in a few months.

Matteo Newborn Photos

 Just look at these sweet little lips and big, dark eyes!! Matteo came to visit me in Pearland from our neighbor town of Friendswood. He had such a precious face and a head full of hair. At the beginning of the session, he woke up and gave us some precious wide-eyed photos, always a sweet surprise with newborns. I usually try to get lots of sleepy and posed newborn photos (since they don’t stay in these curly positions long), but I'm also happy to catch those bright eyes and cute wiggles when baby allows. (Usually waking up means it is time to eat or change a diaper, but this little guy just wanted to check out his surrounding for a few minutes.)

I loved getting to know his family and can't wait to see them again soon for his six-month milestone session. I’m sure I’ll be amazed by his new skills and budding personality. We’ll get lots of playful, interactive shots then! His older siblings will be joining us for that session, too, so I look forward to meeting them!

For Matteo’s newborn session, Mom picked out a gorgeous selection of sets and outfits for her handsome little guy. With the studio all warmed up, we did a few simple, classic photos to show off his soft newborn skin. We kept the background neutral with tiny dots for some texture. I really wanted to capture all of his precious features: the fuzzy shoulders, wrinkly skin, and plump cheeks.

Then we moved on to a few themed photos. They’re big Astros fans, so I loved the knit baseball outfit they brought. For the others, we included deep red, plaid, and gray color schemes. The newborn caps fit his head perfectly, so we incorporated several of those in, too. He looked adorable no matter what we put him in, and he went right along with the flow, snoozing away until the end.

Welcome home, baby Matteo! Can’t wait to see them back in a few months.

Weston Newborn Portraits

It seems like just yesterday I was photographing this big sister’s newborn portraits, and now it’s her brand-new baby brother’s turn! What an honor it was to be asked to photograph this family again!

I photographed Weston’s sister's newborn session just 18 months prior to his session, and for an 18-month-old, she did amazingly well for their sibling photos – better than some preschoolers even. I know this made their mommy so very happy! You just never know how a toddler will act for photos...sometimes they are willing to participate and other times they are less than enthusiastic. But this sweet girl is already so enamored with baby Weston. She gently patted his fluffy hair and rubbed his soft skin, which lulled him into an even deeper sleep.

It’s fun when kids are this close in age because they will truly grow up together. I can’t wait to watch their relationship grow in these first special years. Of course, they’ll have their share of squabbles as they learn to play and get along, but I have a feeling they’ll also be each other’s best friend and greatest supporter!

Brother was so handsome with enviable lashes and kissable baby lips. His detail shots are so sweet! And I just love the boy colors in this session with hints of blue and lots of dark woody colors to contrast the lighter neutrals. Mom did a great job of coordinating and letting me know what they like! I had so much fun putting this together for them. Weston is just as sweet as can be, and I know this family will enjoy looking back on these memories for years to come.

Documenting your children’s first years of life is so important. You already know how fast the time goes, and preserving those precious moments and details on your smartphone is just not enough. Down the road, you’ll want beautiful, high-quality heirloom collections that can be shared, passed down, and enjoyed. Click [here] to learn more about our services and products.